Can’t decide on a piece of artwork? Try a mirror instead. You can find them in nearly any shape and size, whether you’d prefer a statement mirror or two matching ones that flank the mantel. A mirror also helps to brighten your living room by reflecting light from a window. You can either hang it or set it on the mantel and lean it against the wall.

A sectional is a functional alternative to a sofa because it offers extra seating and lounge space. Just because you have a small living room doesn’t mean you can’t have a sectional. In fact, a perfectly sized modular sectional may be the best option. What else would you do with that corner, anyway? Might as well make it extra seating.

Embrace the seasons, and not just the ones at the end of the year. Add fresh flowers in the spring, tall grasses or bowls of slow-ripening fruit in the summer, or vases of cranberries as fall approaches to keep your mantel current. While mantel decorating creates an important focal point in a living room, it’s also one of the easiest things to change out — whether seasonally or with the trends. A good way to keep yourself from going into design despair is to collect several pieces to use together for a fresh look.